So, coaches are getting some bad press in a couple of other threads, so I thought it might be interesting to talk about who has really impressed us as a coach (masters or open) and what it was about that coach that was so good. Ok, I'll go first.
A fellow named Archie Mckinnon was my first coach in age group, when I was 7-9yrs old & was flat out the best communicator I have ever seen. He let us know why we were doing what we were doing, what we were going to do & consulted us frequently as to what we wanted to get from our swimming (us individually, not the parents). Sounds out of a modern textbook, right? This was 1959-62 I've never had a coach since who came close to him, which had a great deal to do with me leaving swimming when I was fourteen.
Parents
Former Member
I firmly believe that Mike Lewellyn is one of the best coaches in the country. After swimming up through college-age, last year I returned to USA Swimming (not even USMS) and began swimming with the KC Blazers. They were a team I hated and feared as a child from all the horror stories I heard of outrageous practices and tough coaches. Since I swam short-course with them this past year, I have realized that Pete Malone and Mike Lewellyn aren't quite the assholes my buddies made them out to be. As a matter of fact, if I could go back to the first time I ever switched teams (right about the time I began to qualify for what was then Regions and Junior Nationals) I would have gone to the Blazers. I hope Mike realizes how he helped me grow as a swimmer even at the age I am now.
Reply
Former Member
I firmly believe that Mike Lewellyn is one of the best coaches in the country. After swimming up through college-age, last year I returned to USA Swimming (not even USMS) and began swimming with the KC Blazers. They were a team I hated and feared as a child from all the horror stories I heard of outrageous practices and tough coaches. Since I swam short-course with them this past year, I have realized that Pete Malone and Mike Lewellyn aren't quite the assholes my buddies made them out to be. As a matter of fact, if I could go back to the first time I ever switched teams (right about the time I began to qualify for what was then Regions and Junior Nationals) I would have gone to the Blazers. I hope Mike realizes how he helped me grow as a swimmer even at the age I am now.
